284. Caleb Atwater on the Winds of the West. 
water course running either north or south, and when also 
there happens to be a large -branch emptying into the stream, 
within a few miles either above or below the point where the 
storm approaches it, I have uniformly observed the storm to 
cross the large stream at the point where the large branch 
unites with it, and ascend the branch. Where there are two 
large tributaries about equi-distant from the point of approach, 
the storm frequently diyides and follows each of them. The 
reason why it should be so, this is not the place to discuss; 
but the Wisdom and Goodness which so ordered it, are too ap- 
parent to every rational mind to be overlooked. It may be 
asked if the difference in latitude and elevation between the 
Ohio and lake regions of country, does not produce a great dif 
ference in the climates of those respective regions? These 
causes certainly produce some difference, but not all. It is 
my object | to establish facts, rather than any favorite theory. 
The difference of latitude between the Ohio river at the mouth 
oy the Scioto, and Lake Erie at the mouth of the Maume or 
andusky, i is nearly three degrees, and the difference of eleva- 
Pon the sea is trifling, if any. From the mouth of the 
Scioto. to Columbus, about 90 miles in a direct line, the water, 
where there is what is commonly called a ripple, runs briskly, 
and these ripples happen, perhaps, one to a mile; but they are 
- in asandstone region, and the fall of course is trifling. 
Let us suppose then, that the river Scioto descends one 
hundred feet from the mouth of the Whetstone, which empties 
into that river at Columbus, to the Ohio, and that the Whet 
stone which runs through a limestone formation, descends anoth- _ 
er hundred feet, which would make Upper Sandusky tw 
hundred feet higher than the Ohio river. From this highest 
ground between the Ohio and the lake, it is a well-known fact, 
that the land descends towards the north much more ina give? 
distance, than it does towards the south, and the distance is not 
half as far. The Manme and other streams putting into the 
lake, are full of rapids. Admitting for argument’s sake, that 
the Sandusky or Maume descends only 100 feet, then the su 
face of the lake is 100 feet highes than the Ohio river. W ould 
